How to grow a giant pumpkin

It takes 125 to 130 days to grow a giant pumpkin, & it is started indoors in the spring. Start with the right variety. 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' has set many world records. 'Prizewinner', 'Big Max', or 'Big Moon' are also good.

Start early. "The more competitive growers start their seeds inside and have them ready for transplanting when the plant is in the three-leaf stage," says Howard Dill of Nova Scotia, breeder of 'Dill's Atlantic Giant,' a variety that's produced many world record holders. But don't start them too early, Dill warns, "because the plant may become spindly and have a weak root structure." Also, bear in mind that "transplanting can stunt pumpkin seedlings' growth." Even under the best conditions, it may take up to two weeks before a transplant finally root in and starts growing.
http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/...

Some have transplanted seedlings a month before the last frost, using a temporary cold frame or a temporary home-made greenhouse made of clear plastic. Others even add a heat source.
http://www.plantideas.com/pumpkin/secert...
Use a dark plastic sheet on the ground to keep the soil warm & bugs out.

Whether you start with seeds or seedlings, give them plenty of room to spread out—25 feet from each other. They are vigorous growers and heavy feeders, and good soil is important. Enrich your planting bed with aged cow manure.

Of the 125 to 130 days it takes to grow a giant pumpkin, "the first 60 are very important," Dill says. "That's when the plant extends itself, flowers begin to appear and the fruit begins to form." To achieve record size pumpkins, you must select one or two of the first few on the vine (typically those with the best shape) and remove the others. Also, pinch off any that form later.

During the second 60 days, the fruit may grow 8 to 20 pounds per day. To fuel that growth, "organic gardeners can feed with manure tea or compost tea after the fruit is set," Dill says. Weekly feeding is essential for growing giant pumpkins. Early season fertilizing and watering is recommend to provide superior plant growth prior to pollination.

To become an eye-popping behemoth, your pumpkin has to grow at a good steady rate. So, do everything you can to protect its leaves from too much wind.They supply nutrients to the stem of the pumpkin.

Pumpkin leaves need lots of sun, but direct sunlight on the pumpkin itself will harden its outer skin, limiting its growth. You can construct a shade out of burlap or other lightweight material.

Temperature is important, too. Daytime highs around 80 to 90 degrees F are ideal for growing giant pumpkins.
Give the vines 25 feet in each direction,
Water it, regularly, daily even
Feed it: composted cow manure or compost tea, weekly.

Another site with tips on growing giant pumpkins:
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants.htm

Selecting the right seed increases your chances in growing a large pumpkin. Join a local Pumpkin grower association. They can help you get seeds (maybe even free ones from others who have grown huge pumpkins), you can get seeds from reputable seed companies, or you can order seeds from Howard Dill:
http://www.howarddill.com/

Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

An increasingly popular activity worldwide is growing giant vegetables, particularly a giant pumpkin. Below I’ve outlined some basic steps to get you started growing your first giant pumpkin.

Soil Preparation: Your target pH will be between 6.5 and 6.8. Make subtle adjustments by adding sulfur or lime. Sulfur will lower the pH and lime will help raise it. Use composted manure mixed with your soil.

Seed Preparation: Start your seed indoors with a soil temperature of about 90 degrees F. Do this approximately a month before last frost.

Transplant to the Garden: Gently transfer the plant to the garden about a week after germination.

Seed Protection: Use a homemade mini-greenhouse to protect plants from frost and cold winds. Use a fence to protect the plants from wind after they out grow their new greenhouse home.

Flower Pollination: Hand pollination is necessary to get a jump start with your giant pumpkin. A little over 2 months after starting your seed you should see female flowers beginning to appear. The females will have a tiny pumpkin at their base. Choose a male flower (one without the tiny pumpkin) and pick it and remove the flower petals from the outside of it. Use the male to gently swab the female to begin the process.

Early pollination is key because the pumpkins have the ability to gain between 25 and 30 pounds a day.

Adjust the Pumpkin Position: Try to keep the stem of the pumpkin at a 90 degree angle to the vine. Just make gradual gentle adjustments to its position until it’s at the desired angle from the vine. The stems are very fragile at this stage so be extra cautious.

Choose a Pumpkin: Leaving all the pumpkins on the vine is sharing nutrients. You want to allow one or two pumpkins to get as many nutrients as possible by removing the rest, so choose the pumpkin or pumpkins that are growing the quickest.

Expert tip: Pumpkins that are tall and round tend to grow the biggest. Look out for pumpkins of that nature.

Vine Pruning: Once a main vine has reached a dozen feet beyond your pumpkin, it’s time to prune it. Side vines should be no longer than 8 or 9 feet. To prevent water loss, burying the ends that have been pruned is a good idea.

Fertilization: A 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer formula is ideal for your pumpkins to maintain healthy growth. Never over-fertilize as pumpkins have and will explode from too rapid growth.

Of course, you need some proven seeds that are bred with the genetics to grow the big pumpkins. Also, a decent book from a giant vegetable growing professional will come in handy for specifics about insects, soil, pH, determining the weight of the pumpkin and any other issue you may run into, but the basics above should get you on the right track. Best of luck to you.

How to Grow Giant Pumpkins